The Story of Larlie of Virtice: From Clanless Wanderer To Valued Adviser

In their wake, a good distance back and safe from curious eyes, trotted a blue-skinned doe. She was dressed in a plain smock with nary a jewel adorning herself, presenting a sharp contrast to the decorated deer who preceded her. The simple doe’s most luxurious feature was her well-formed antlers that she kept polished to a fine sheen. She seemed young but her teeth proved her to be of middle age. She called herself Larlie. Larlie sought shelter in the poorer part of London and, as she could not present any sort of background or history for herself, her lodgings were poor indeed. In stag society, as soon as they started eating solid food, fawns were assessed and classified according to their genetics, interests, propensities, and preferences and placed in the clans that would become their life-long and real families. The betterment of the Stag Alliance was the highest and ultimate goal. Larlie exhibited none of the little signs and features that indicated her stag clan. She knew none of the special words and movements peculiar to a clan. She even refused to identify her clan when asked. Larlie was an anomaly in a well-regulated society, hence, she was suspect. While Larlie was trying to make a living as inconspicuously as possible, the royals immersed themselves in the lives of their fellow deer, visiting various districts and projects, feeling secure in the certainty of a thousand years of peace and plenty. After all, they had done the same thing for quite sometime now. All was safe and secure and their people loved them. Before long, the royals found their way into the district where Larlie lived. Night had fallen by the time the royals arrived at the social hall in Larlie’s district. The visit was scheduled but had been delayed by the unexpectedly lengthy questions raised during the open forums in earlier meetings. Larlie was exhausted from a long day’s work hauling sweet grass from the surrounding meadows to the storerooms, and she thought about skipping the royal meet-up and going straight to bed. However, curiosity had her trudging to the social hall and finding a seat in the back nearest the door. She had never met a royal and she wanted to see one in particular, Queen Virtue, about whom she had heard only good things. Queen Virtue did not disappoint Larlie. The queen was dressed in a simple robe with a single pin and a silver necklace, but her antlers were festooned with dewy flowers about which fluttered colourful butterflies. Birds perched on her antlers and sang softly. She filled the room with the subtle fragrance of wildflowers and held the audience with her quiet dignity. Larlie could not help, but be drawn to her, eventually gaining enough courage to approach the queen, introduce herself, and speak. For more than an hour, Larlie spoke eloquently and Queen Virtue listened, and the queen marvelled at the intelligence of Larlie and the deep social incisiveness of her observations and analyses. As a part of the masses, Larlie was keenly aware of certain societal sentiments incognizant to the Queen. Never before had she met a Doe from Vertice as shrewd as Larlie. When the Queen heard her name being called out repeatedly, she realized that her companions were searching for her. She got up from her perch on an apple crate and bid her farewells to Larlie. “I see you and I will listen to you, Larlie of Virtice. When the sun rises, come to my palace. We have much to discuss.” As instructed, Larlie went to the palace as soon as the sun rose. She was horribly ill at ease, but she wanted to keep her word to the queen. Queen Virtue asked Larlie to join her inner circle as an adviser. A week later, Larlie was formally inducted into Clan Virtice by Queen Virtue and King Justice, the oldest deer to be so inducted into Clan Virtice since history was written. The queen tried to bestow luxurious clothes and jewellery on Larlie, as was the norm, but Larlie refused them, and it was only after much persuasion that she accepted two robes, a bejewelled pin, and a silver chain necklace. Larlie stayed the same although her clothes were softer and made of the best material. She remained a simple little blue-skinned middle-aged doe with determined eyes, a brave heart, and the finest mind in all of the Stag Alliance.